The rollout of agricultural-themed funds proceeds relentlessly. Hot on the heels of the launch announcement of such a fund by France’s Credit Agricole Asset Management, UK investment house Schroders has launched the Schroders Agricultural Land Fund.

The fund, structured as a listed investment trust, will be open to investors from September this year. It will offer investors exposure to global agricultural land and land-related industries through investment in private equity companies, farm management businesses and related funds.  About a quarter of the fund will invest in agricultural land related equities and commodities.

The target net return of the fund will be 10-15 per cent per annum over a 5-10 year investment period.

Schroders, a UK-listed firm, oversaw £130.6 billion ($259.6 billion) in assets under management at 31 March 2008.